Prosecutor recommends jail, community service in paintball attacks

Posted: Thursday, August 16, 2001

ANCHORAGE (AP) -- The Anchorage District Attorney's office has recommended a man who videotaped his brother and another boy shooting paint balls at Alaska Natives should receive some jail time and perform 1,500 hours of community service.

In a sentencing memorandum filed Tuesday, chief assistant district attorney John Novak offered the recommendation. He also provided about 50 letters and e-mails his office received with sentencing suggestions.

Three week ago, Charles Wiseman, 20, pleaded no contest to three counts of fourth-degree assault. At the time, Anchorage District Judge Peter Ashman asked the public to weigh in on what sentence Wiseman should receive.

Wiseman is to be sentenced Aug. 31.

Wiseman originally faced seven counts of misdemeanor assault for making a videotape on Jan. 14 of his brother and another juvenile as they fired paint balls at seven people. the video recording, the young men said they were ''hunting'' for ''muktuks.''

The tape attracted national media attention, prompted local forums on racism, and led Gov. Tony Knowles to appoint a Cabinet-level panel on tolerance in Alaska.

Most of the people who offered sentencing suggestions suggested Wiseman be sentenced to community service at a homeless shelter, the Alaska Native Heritage Center, or a rural Alaska village.

In the memo, Novak suggested the court fashion a sentence that requires Wiseman to complete his hours of community work service and then report on the service in a public forum.

Each victim is expected to testify at the sentencing. A representative from a Native organization also will comment, offering a ''broader perspective'' of Wiseman's conduct, according to the sentencing memorandum.